Blevins
A second asbestos suit has been filed on the behalf of Ben Wilkerson, who already sued once and received a settlement for his non-malignant asbestos-related disease.
Representing his estate, Rozella Wilkerson the suit April 11 in Jefferson County District Court.
The defendants named in the suit are A.O. Smith, A.W. Chesterton, Ametek, Bechtel Corp., CBS Corp., Certainteed Corp., Cleaver Brooks, Crane Co., Crown Cork & Seal, D&F Distributing, Dana Companies, Flour Enterprises, Flour Maintenance, General Electric, General Refractories, Georgia Pacific, Gould Pumps, Henry Vogt Machine, Industrial Holdings, Ingersoll Rand, Metropolitan Life Insurance, Pneumo Abex, Riley Power, Sepco, Treco Construction, Union Carbide and Zurn Industries.
According to the lawsuit, Wilkerson worked as a pipefitter and was exposed to asbestos products and asbestos fibers and dust, which caused him to suffer from a non-malignant, asbestos-related disease. No dates of employment are given.
The suit states this is Wilkerson's second asbestos suit for which he sues for a different malignant asbestos-related disease pursuant to Putejovsky v. Rapid American.
He has already settled his first claim with one or more of the defendants, according to the suit.
The defendants are accused of manufacturing, distributing and using asbestos products without warning workers of the dangers.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants acted with malice, entitling her to exemplary damages.
Beaumont attorney Bryan Blevins Jr. of Provost Umphrey represents her.
Judge Gary Sanderson, 6oth District Court, is assigned to the case.
Case No. B192-292